K-band image of M87

An infrared image (taken with UFTI in 1998) of a Galaxy with an active nucleus (an AGN). In all probability a super-massive black hole -- 3 billion times more massive than our sun -- situated at the centre of this galaxy drives the jet evident here.

Over the years, M87 has been observed numerous times at UKIRT, most recently with the UKIRT fast-track imager (UFTI) after completion of the UKIRT upgrades programme. The figure shown here illustrates the improvement in image quality attained at UKIRT since this programme began.